As 2024 draws to a close, it's clear that the world of travel has seen many trends come and go.
Looking ahead to 2025, Contaki released its annual Voice of a Generation report, which surveyed more than 1,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 35 on what will influence the 2025 travel landscape.
According to the report, research shows that millennials and Gen Z travelers are “unequivocally the first generation to travel” willing to make sacrifices to travel more.
The survey states that “these generations are less vocal when it comes to funding their own vacations, and more than half of travelers have moved back home or will consider moving back home with their parents in order to travel.” disposable income can be saved to go towards
As we look forward to the 2025 travel year, here are the key trends shaping the 2025 travel season, according to the report.
1. Prioritizing vacations over promotions
The report revealed that a career is still a priority for young Americans, with 54 percent trying to balance work and travel, with a growing number of young professionals prioritizing travel over their careers. is
The travel company said, “One-third (33%) of young professionals noted that travel is more important than advancing their career, with 56% seeking more paid time off (PTO) for travel.” will waive the increase for,” the travel company said. .
It added that not having enough PTO was the second-biggest barrier preventing this generation from booking their next trip, while, incidentally, the biggest travel barrier was “having enough to travel.” There was no money”.
The company said, “These new findings show that 18- to 35-year-olds are more interested in fully embracing the vacation atmosphere while on vacation, with more than half reporting that they'll take a break from work while traveling. prefer to be completely disconnected, versus booking a leisurely trip,” the company said.
2. Bully visits
The travel company also noted that travelers in 2025 are becoming rogue, escaping from their daily routines and driven by the upcoming election frenzy.
It also found that more than half of travelers said they would rather visit out-of-the-way destinations than tuck in all the main attractions in popular destinations.
“The report shows that 70% of travelers are considering following the impulse and booking spontaneous trips departing in less than 10 days, and a surprising 78% of travelers are planning to avoid the US election chaos. have considered booking the trip,” Kontiki said.
It said this demographic is all about embracing the counterculture even when it comes to destinations, with more than 80% saying they would rather skip mainstream holiday resorts and head to the Maldives or Albania instead. Plan to choose a more distant alternative such as the Philippines. Instead of Croatia
3. Clear mind tourism
The report also highlights that the trend toward quiet tourism continues with 83% of millennial and Gen Z travelers expressing an interest in booking a quiet travel experience.
“Gone are the days of the party-obsessed young traveler, Gen Z and millennials want to experience their adventures with a clear head.
“This trend is consistent with the top motivations for travel in 2025: to immerse in the local culture (34%); to learn something new and enriching (24%); to relax and rejuvenate (23%); and for thrills, adrenaline Embark on a pumping adventure (18%),” the travel company said.
4. Travel with strangers.
Kontiki also said that Gen Z and millennials are willing to leave their friends behind when it comes to travel companions.
“This generation is very open to making new relationships while traveling. 58% noted that instead of traveling with existing friends, they would prefer to just book a trip and make new friends along the way,” the company said. .
5. Involved in travel
Finally, the Voice of Generations report also stated that sustainable travel has been on the rise for a long time and will continue to grow in importance as 90% of travelers aged 18 to 35 said that they Sustainability was important to
These travelers revealed that leaving a positive impact on the destination, visiting communities (42%) and helping to conserve wildlife (38%) were some of the most important things for them while discussing carbon emissions. rated less important (19%).
“These findings reflect a growing interest in seeing the direct impact of participating in immersive eco-positive experiences during travel, for example, focusing on the importance of the indirect impact that carbon offset programs offer,” Kontiki said. than to do,” Kontiki said.